Tag Archives: gourmet burgers

Korner Burger, located in the financial district of Zurich, has gained a reputation for its Swiss Highland Beef that makes up its legendary gourmet burgers. Korner prides itself on its high quality and locally sourced ingredients. Offering a change of scene during a business lunch, Korner Burger seems to be a popular choice for dinner as well (the restaurant is open every day except Sundays). Easily accessible by public transport (Stockerstrasse), the restaurant does not have private parking spaces. Public parking spaces however, can be found in the area (although… it is the city of Zurich, so maybe just hop on public transport). There is not much that gives away what is going on inside Korner Burger. “Life’s too short for bad coffee” are the only giveaways on the board outside the restaurant. While it may cause some people to mistake the restaurant for a coffeehouse, it definitely sparks curiosity as to what the fuss inside is all about… To the left of the entrance an outdoor patio area with two despondent tables serve as a reminder that those sunny summer days will at one point be back to bless the city. Waiting for my friend outside the restaurant it struck me that this place is well-maintained. Then I noticed the kitchen, which is located underground. I interpreted the untinted windows as a good sign. A sign that there is nothing to hide! A sign that the hosts take pride in what goes on in the kitchen! A showcase! As more and more burgers are being prepared alongside fries and other goodness, I begin feeling the February wind. I’m getting hungrier by the minute and am looking forward to a good burger. My friend arrives and we scout for a table for two. After about a minute’s wait at the little reception table designed to welcome the patrons, we are greeted by a friendly waiter who escorts us to a table. The ‘reserved’ sign disappears as he takes it away (we thought we’d try our luck and thus chose not to book a table). The menu sits at the sleekly arranged wooded table ready to be explored. The atmosphere is cheerful, dappa… yet casual. Reading the menu I feel that the lights could be turned up a notch if it were for me… but my friend felt that it was almost too bright – so let’s just say, it’s difficult to please everyone… We placed our order for the starters and main course. The waitress ensured that we were aware that the rhubarb-schorle (3 dl CHF 5.50) is served with fresh mint and ice. Very thoughtful. Personally, I decided to stick to a more conventional brew – the wheat beer Turbinenbräu Start (5 dl CHF 8.00). It is clear that the staff at this place know the menu well, as advice and answers to our curious questions were given on numerous occasions. However, I did expect to be asked how I would like the meat to be cooked – but this did not happen. The starter arrives – we decided to share a plate of nachos (CHF 9.50). This was definitely the right choice – as opposed to a traditional mountain full of nachos, these were portioned perfectly. A nice sour cream addition leaves you wanting more. Not burnt, no clumps of cheese, not over-salted – they seem to have gotten this just right. The waitress asked us whether we were ready for the burgers – and sure thing we were! We decided to order The Kraut (handmade beef burger, Korner Sauce, organic bacon, coleslaw, fried egg, roasted onions and salad leaf) (CHF 24.50) and the Cheese Please (handmade beef burger, Korner Sauce, swiss cheese and salad leaf) (CHF 22.00). The burgers were cooked well and the buns were a perfect match. The rest of the garnishing is left on the side of the plate, allowing you to add as you please. The accompanied sauces are all homemade. Having particularly enjoyed the Garlic Mayo (CHF 2.50), the BBQ Sauce (CHF 2.50) at Korner seems to have a strong tomato base. The Korner Fries (CHF 5.50) and Onion Rings (CHF 5.50) were not necessarily the highlight of the meal (some chips were overcooked and others slightly undercooked, the onion rings were fairly greasy).After a little pause we decided that we would satisfy our sweet tooth. The monthly special Toblerone Mousse (CHF 7.50) – that’s what it was going to be… Attentively served, decorated with an eye for detail, tasty and yet not too rich… The Espresso (CHF 4.00) at Korner Burger is served with a complimentary mini-brownie. Sometimes it’s the little things in life…As the restaurant is slowly emptying, the upbeat instrumental music is becoming more noticeable. The bill arrives promptly after asking for it. Our dinner for the two of us totals to CHF 105.00. While there are cheaper places to eat burgers in Zurich, the carefully selected menu and the high-quality ingredients are obviously appreciated by burger lovers. The attentive staff are friendly, helpful and professional and the atmosphere fits the concept of this urban burger eatery. A great place to be, no matter whether for lunch or dinner.